Chapter 5

(At the hospital)

The school management has discussed Daniel’s health attention, Daniel was then sent to the same room with the victim so that the school matron won’t be running in between two rooms, though el’s case won’t take the whole day as it had been immediately attended to and then he had also been put on a drip due to probability of blood loss and strength. 

On entrance to the room, the victim saw Daniel entering and did a deadly sign towards him by moving his hands across his neck signaling to Daniel that he will surely kill him. Daniel didn’t shake or do as if it was a serious matter. These reactions from Daniel caused more fear within the boy as he had been suspecting since that day of the encounter that Daniel must have joined a higher cult for him to get in mind to fight a cultist. Within a few hours of their stay in the ward, the matron, unaware of the facial threats from the two boys, stepped out of the ward to get food and energy drinks for the boys as the school had instructed her to do once Daniel finishes the drip. 

“Do you know you are already dead?” the victim tells Daniel with a countenance that can scare even an adult. It was the face of a wicked rat. 

“Doomed is your other name; I wouldn’t have done much to you but you deserve more; this time around  I exercise the full powers of my kingdom in line with prayers on you”. Daniel refers back to him.

“I wish I hadn’t told the story to the whole school, but very bad you may be on the losing side as the whole school is now aware that you are a cultist and this might lead to your expulsion and other future detriments' '. Daniel tells him.

The victim’s countenance changed and there was peace. Immediately, the matron entered with a food flask for the two to eat from. 

    The first few minutes of the meal were like that of wide animals not because of the rate at which they eat, but the eye contact and conscious fight between the spoons and the position of the left hand fixed on the flask. At first, the matron had not been fully aware that the two boys are the causes of their injuries, she didn’t pay much attention to the acts, she even thought it was normal not until the victim used his spoon on Daniel's hand. 

      At the arrival of the dean, principal, and some teachers, a brief meeting was held and the matron was fully initiated into the discussion to observation but she couldn’t describe any inference but promised to do so since she has been fully conveyed information. 

“Just a few hours to go ma, we need a few bits of info capable of helping us conclude before this matter gets out of hand.” My principal said to the Matron.

“Now that I am carried along, I won’t fail”. She replied.

“Just monitor the two, their reactions towards each other, their contact and even their movements; any violent move should be stopped by you, don’t assume they are young, wickedness of man is never dependent on age”. The dean responds to e matron after her promise.

******

The two boys were asleep when the matron entered the room after the meeting, not up to an hour before they were awake again. No serious interaction of any kind went on in between them more to the confusion of the matron. She then initiated a discussion to get some views and words out of their mouths. 

“Have any of you wondered how a quick man can lose his life if death knocks on his door?”. She asked the young boys.

 At first, there was no sign of getting a reply but then as she was about to throw another word she perceived Daniel had raised his hand. 

“Daniel, can I hear you out?”. She told him.

“Ma, I know from children's Sunday school that we were told that death is inevitable and can happen anytime anywhere, and anyhow, but we can control the possibility through carefully living not just a safe life but an assured life by living with fear to the one who is capable of taking life which He gives to us”. Daniel responded. 

Matron was amazed and couldn’t believe that the boy who has been tagged a liar and wicked can say such words. These lines were contradicting the words of the principal who had said that Daniel looks more wicked than the victim. 

“Hey boys, I need a response from you”. She quickly referred to the victim.

“Ma, I believe that life is a struggle, brother kills brother, life is a jungle, and only the strongest lives more than the weak; death is never an option but a reality, we all must die so let's all use our lives in enjoyment as we can, judgment is still a lie, once dead already dead”. The victim replies, positioning a nasty look on Daniel's face. 

The look was immediately captured by the matron. At this time she adjusted the position of her phone and came closer in between the two beds. 

“So tell me your names and your classes boys”. She asked with a cute smile.

“l am Daniel Moss, ss1 science class”. Daniel replied.

“l am Brad Emmanuel, I am in ss3 science class”. The victim replied too.

“Wow! What beautiful names you two bear”. She said with another cute smile.

She opens her phone, takes a few minutes, and then looks intently at the two, and then bent down again. After a few minutes, she looked at the victim and asked him when he joined the school. 

“I started from my junior secondary Ma, class one precisely”. He replied.

“Ok, thanks”. Matron replies.

   Moments later they were informed of their release and the school bus was already outside waiting for them. They were taken to school and there was joy on many students' faces when they saw them. The victim had been out of school for four days while Daniel had been out for two days only. 

The principal with the help of the health prefect had them taken back to their hostels and the principal went in to have a meeting with the dean and matron and some staff. The meeting started at 6 pm and they hoped that by 7 pm they would be done and go back for rest and meet up the next day with the whole school to finally settle the issue on the ground. The matron was indicted for giving a rundown of events that took place within the few hours of her observation. Everyone was forced to make some adjustments to sitting positions when the matron had a deep breath in and said, this world never stops shocking us. 

She brought out her phone because she knew how critical her role was so she had to adopt an easier but accurate means to fulfill the task. She played down the discussions that happened between them and the whole staff in the meeting was shocked by the responses. The English teacher who had been defending Daniel suddenly gained ground to push his claims harder and thicker, demanding that the penalty won’t be reduced if the victim ends up being the victim.

“These details didn’t shock me the way this one am about to play shocked me”. Matron said, looking intently at the principal.

“play it then, we need more details please”. The English teacher cuts in with a more serious look.

(She then played a video of all the names, locations, phone numbers of guidance, and documents of the ss1, and all details of Daniel we’re accurate)

“Ok, thanks Ma, what then is shocking in this detail?”. The principal asked.

“Wait for a little Sir”. She replied.

The video for the ss3 students was played and no name close to Brad Emmanuel was seen. From the details in his photo, his real name is Danjuma Praise. He is from the Midwest part of the country, and he is in ss3. 

There was no other point raised in the meeting after the video, the principal had said that not many words and arguments were needed again. The committee then concluded that Danjuma would be expelled from the school with immediate effect. 

The meeting ended with prayers and it took close to an hour for the prayers. They asked God for more grace and wisdom to pioneer the demands of leadership and guidance to the boys. 

***** 

It’s a new day and the students are already together at the school hall to know the final decision of the management of the school and then go back to their classes for learning.

To their surprise too, Daniel was not with his bags but the victim Danjuma. The principal didn't take much time in the announcement and in the end, the unacceptable character of Danjuma was summarized and he was asked to leave the school premises within 20 minutes. The ss1 students were the most joyful students of the school, their chants were now more melodious as they added the beating of containers to the joy of the rest of the students. 

The stories didn’t end so soon as the events of the weekend were the headlines of gatherings in almost all the corners and classes. Even in the staff rooms, the teachers were also praising God and putting up more strategies to inhibit cultism in the citadel of learning. 

The dean had also demanded of the staff who had long ago been grouped according to their levels, to come up with more plans and strategies to impede the activities of evil and the growth in the school. 

The classes of the day were held and the hours of the studies ended well with no further issues. After the dismissal, the students went back to their hostels and as usual had their meal and siesta, after which they went out for manual labor. Because the school belongs to the Anglican Church and is located on their cathedral ground, the students were entitled to some levels of responsibility to ensure the premises remain as neat as possible. 

“How long will this labor be?” Daniel asked his friend 

“For just an hour we will be back to the school compound for the tournament”. Kaka replied to him.

“The school would have got a machine for these laborers, do they have one?”. Daniel asks, sitting on the grass having cut half of his allocated space.

“They have but without this labor, your training won’t be complete”.  Kaka replies, smiling profusely. 

“Ok oh, school is easy, I’m the one that agreed to come to seminary”. Daniel laughs hard after passing out the line.

“Haha, mad man!”. Kaka replied to him and they continued their work.

At the end of the day, Daniel was very much exhausted from many activities and many explanations to his friends about what happened in the hospital. The news of the lies from Danjuma had spread throughout the school and the boys couldn’t help but start calling each other brads. Daniel had his normal prayer life and slept off with less anxiety knowing fully that he had overcome and he also promised to himself to be more careful.

  Meanwhile, it wasn't a good day for the ss3 students, one of their strongest students had gone, and the silent cultists who had been hiding under the strength of Danjuma were the most affected ones. On the other side of the event, the Christians in the ss3 classes were more joyful than even the ss1 students. Danjuma had always been torn in the flesh to them both with his fight against fellowships and his stealing from the cupboards of the junior students who go to the prayer summit every Thursday. Many reports have gotten to the principal but each time he escapes expulsion with minor punishments and commands to replace stolen properties. 

The most entertaining aspect of the night was when the ss2 boys turned into choristers with melodious sounds and dances like that of Yoruba festivals singing loud; one bra! One brand! One brad; one bra. The night was hit up with sounds until the ss3 boys pushed to the wall stood out with their belts and canes to ensure that all noises stopped so as not to see the principal around the school especially as there is light to charge their illegal phones. They succeeded after much drilling on the students and runs from the students.